Unbeaten Panthers triumph again

There's plenty for Round Lake's boys soccer team to be excited about.

After all, the squad is off to its best start in at least 16 years after its 2-0 win over visiting Antioch on Tuesday night.

The Panthers are Lake County's only unbeaten team. Not a bad spot heading into tonight's Libertyville sectional seeding meeting.

Round Lake is hoping for a top-eight seed.

"I'd like to think so, but a lot of times it's based on reputation," Round Lake coach Mike Hruska said. "I believe our team is good enough to be there. We can play with the better teams, but some people don't consider us as a threat. We haven't been beaten so far, but we haven't played many games."

Round Lake improved to 3-0-1 overall and 2-0 in the North Suburban Prairie Division.

Panthers junior midfielder Cesar Garcia set up both goals against the Sequoits (2-6, 0-2).

"We came out here and showed what kind of pride we have," said Garcia, who has 4 goals and 6 assists in four games. "We believe we can win and want to show everybody. It's a whole team effort and we don't play individually.

"We just score goals and put things together as a team. We've got more of a winning attitude and we're playing with more aggressiveness. There's a lot of heart with this team."

Sophomore Alex Murua scored the first Round Lake goal in the 13th minute off a Garcia cross, as he hit a volley to the back post.

The other Panthers goal occurred in the 64th minute, when Luis Cortez scored on a header off a Garcia corner kick.

"These guys have a lot of ability, but they've got to finish games," Hruska said. "We don't take anybody lightly, and we're looking at one game at a time."

Panthers sophomore goalkeeper Jose Landa earned his third shutout. He had to make only 1 save.

"I'm pleased with our play," Antioch coach Jorge Anduray said. "This was the best team we've played all year. We couldn't stay with them tactically and I was definitely surprised. They've got a lot of unity and soccer etiquette."

-- Rusty Silber

Libertyville 1, Mundelein 0: History has a way of repeating itself even in high school sports.

Back in the 1980s and '90s Dave Ekstrom and Andy Bitta had a fierce but friendly coaching rivalry.

This season, both coaches returned to their prospective teams, and the rivalry started a new chapter Tuesday evening, with Bitta's visiting Libertyville Wildcats shutting out Ekstrom's Mundelein Mustangs 1-0 in a North Suburban Conference Lake Division soccer match.

Libertyville improved to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the division, while Mundelein fell to 5-3 and 0-1.

"I thought it was a great game and I thought we played very well, but we just couldn't put the ball in the goal," Ekstrom said.

Libertyville keeper Jim Palac had 12 saves, including 5 in the last three minutes of the second half.

"Mundelein was putting a lot of pressure on our defense," Palac said. "They knew I hurt my hand (against Grayslake Central last week), and the ball was up in the lights and was hard to see. They were putting pressure on my hand so it was hard to hold on to it."

"He's a great goalie who has Division 1 skills and he showed it again tonight," Bitta said. "He saves us at least two or three times a game."

Mundelein had several chances to tie the game, but Palac came up with a couple of clutch saves.

With five minutes left in the second half, junior Steve Sheffer hit a corner kick that was heading to the goal, but Palac jumped in front to catch the ball in front of the net.

With two minutes left, junior Joe Riddle headed the ball from 15 yards out. The ball hit the goal post and bounced out of bounds.

Senior forward Alvaro Castro scored the game's lone goal with 17:55 left in the first half.

"The ball deflected off one of our defenders," said Mustangs keeper Eric Sorby, who registered 9 saves. "Our defense tried to clear it out and we were unlucky that it went in. I didn't even see it. I just looked back and the ball was in the net, but our defense played great the rest of the game."

Late in the game, Sorby moved up to the 50-yard line to help the Mustangs offense.

"When we're down a goal and there isn't a lot of time and the opponent gets a free kick or a throw-in, I pretty much come up and play an extra sweeper position," Sorby said.

Bitta tipped his hat to his old rival.

"Dave and I always had battles, both boys and girls," he said. "The two teams -- it doesn't matter what the records are -- it's always going to be a battle"

-- Irving Solomon